Baby's plight stirs community

Schenectady's Nico Lattanzio has had three surgeries for rare illness

Updated 10:33 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013

Twin brothers Roman, left, and Nico Lattanzio, right, at agae four months. Nico suffers from rabdiod tumors, a rare illness that his mother, Stacey Moore, says there are 5 cases in the U.S. each year. (Stacey Moore)

Twin brothers Roman, left, and Nico Lattanzio, right, at agae four...

Five month old Nico suffers from rabdiod tumors, a rare illness that his mother, Stacey Moore, says there are 5 cases in the U.S. each year. (Stacey Moore)

SCHENECTADY — Five-month-old Nico Lattanzio is an active baby boy with a healthy appetite who does everything his twin brother, Roman, does.

"You wouldn't think Nico is a sick baby at all," said the boys' mother, Stacey Moore.

But Nico, who has endured three surgeries and numerous chemotherapy treatments for a rare malignant tumor, will need stem-cell transplant in the next few months.

Moore said noticed a lump under Nico's skin the size of a pea around his hip area a few days after the twins were born on Sept. 4.

Moore took Nico to Albany Medical Center Hospital where doctors discovered a mass, ran more tests and ultimately informed her that her child suffered from malignant rhabdoid tumor or MRT, an aggressive form of tumor originally described as a variant of Wilms' tumor, which is a kidney tumor that occurs mainly in children. In the U.S., rhabdoid tumor of the kidney occurs only in about five to 10 children each year. Most children are younger than 3 years old when they are diagnosed.

"I really couldn't believe that a baby could be hit with cancer and what we were being faced with," said Moore, 24.

In October, Nico underwent surgery at Albany Med to remove the tumor and doctors discovered two more tumors on his brain. They operated on him twice more in December and he will undergo stem cell transplant when he reaches 20 pounds. Nico weighs about 16 pounds now. Before he gets the stem-cell transplant at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, Nico will get high levels of chemotherapy, his mother said.

Trips to the hospital have taken an emotional and financial toll.

"It's been very hard on the family, we have a lot of support, and appreciate everything everyone has done for us," said Moore, who because of the care required for the twins has not been able to return to her job as a patient registrar at Ellis Hospital. "The better the energy around him, the better he will pull through."

Their father, Kevin Lattanzio, 28, has also taken time off from his job to be with them, she said.

Moore's father, Gary Moore, works for Schenectady's sanitation department. His union held a fundraiser to help Moore cover Nico's medical expenses. The Schenectady Police Benevolent Association and Malozzi's Banquet Hall sponsored a benefit for the boy on Friday. For information about making a donation, call 379-6251 or 591-9986.

Detective Ed Ritz, PBA president, said Nico's case is compelling: "What better cause than an innocent child going through a courageous and difficult battle," he said. "We have a desire and an obligation to give back to the community because we're fortunate to have the jobs we do."

Nico's aunt has started a Facebook page at Facebook.com/supportforNico.